Celtic Football Club reportedly showed interest in Manchester United's young left-back Harry Amass during the recently closed summer transfer window. The Scottish giants were among a competitive field of over a dozen clubs pursuing the talented 19-year-old, who had just completed a successful loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.
The urgency for Celtic to bolster their left-back position arose after it became evident that Marcelo Saracchi would not be returning to Parkhead. As a result, the Hoops were actively seeking alternatives to strengthen their defense. Amass emerged as a promising candidate, drawing attention for his performances during his time on loan.
According to reports from The Athletic, Celtic's interest in Amass was part of a broader strategy to enhance their squad depth. However, Manchester United's decision to retain Amass was influenced by their inability to secure a replacement left-back during the transfer window. This left the young player in a position to continue his development at Old Trafford rather than moving on permanently.
Celtic was not alone in their pursuit of Amass. Other clubs, including Stoke City, Birmingham City, Millwall, QPR, and Burnley, also expressed interest. Burnley even had a bid of £3.5 million turned down by Manchester United, underscoring the high demand for the young defender. Additionally, teams from abroad, including Sporting CP in Portugal and Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, were monitoring Amass's situation.
While Celtic explored options to fill their left-back vacancy, Manchester United themselves were looking to strengthen this position. They reportedly engaged in discussions with rivals Manchester City regarding a potential late move for Rayan Ait-Nouri, but ultimately, no agreement was reached before the window closed.
In response to their defensive needs, Celtic secured a season-long loan deal for Chelsea's Landon Emenalo, which came after weeks of delays due to injury concerns. Emenalo's arrival, along with fellow Chelsea loanee Shim Mheuka, was part of a late surge of signings for the club. Celtic also welcomed Sam Johnstone, Joel van den Berg, and Jordan Lotomba as they aimed to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.
Another option considered by Celtic was former defender Greg Taylor, but PAOK was not willing to let him leave, as their new coach, Alessio Lisci, views Taylor as a potential asset in midfield. The club's proactive approach in the transfer market reflects their ambition to compete effectively in both domestic and European competitions this season.
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